Group challenges forest's weed-control plan

The Western News

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies – an environmental group based in Helena – filed on Monday a lawsuit in federal court in an attempt to block a weed-control plan in Kootenai National Forest.

The Kootenai National Forest Invasive Plant Project, authorized last year, includes spraying herbicide from helicopters.

The alliance’s lawsuit alleges that aerial spraying would be potentially harmful to Libby-area residents and grizzly bears. The Forest Service and regional forester Tom Tidwell are named in the suit.

“We have identified that dealing with invasive species is one of the major threats to our national forests,” said Steve Kratville, director of public affairs for the Forest Service Region 1.

“Issues were raised with the aerial application of herbicides,” Kratville said. “That is one of a whole host of tools in the KNF Environmental Impact Statement. The approach the KNF has taken is the responsible way to deal with invasive species.”

Other components of the project include the control of weeds through land spraying, hand-pulling and through the use of insects that feast on weeds. The plan would be implemented over a 15-year period in an area that encompasses 94,000 acres.